beauty

in September

Sainte-Chapelle

 

 Sainte-Chapelle was the private chapel in the royal palace of St. Louis IX, King of France. Also, the namesake of St. Louis, MO.  It was built around 1240, and something like 70% of the stained glass is original. All of the glass was cleaned over the past 7-10 years making the interior glow more brightly. The stained glass only uses 4-5 colors and tells Biblical stories through the Old and New Testaments and the Passion of Chris. The chapel also contains relics of the true cross.

What these pictures do not show are the crowds of people looking up at the stained glass, walls and ceiling. They stay mostly quiet, due to a guard who periodically calls, "Shhhh!" There are tours being given in different languages, quietly, as the groups walk around the inside. However, the crowds do not detract from the true beauty and awe of this space. Though it is large it is not nearly as large as a cathedral, and the light coming in is just breathtaking. I could have stayed in this space all day, given a chair.

a breath of fresh air

Victoria-by-the-Bay

 Queen Anne's lace

I recently spent some time in on a wonderful little island called Prince Edward. The Queen Anne's lace grows everywhere -by every road, in fields, and by the sea. There were other fields of wildflowers, including lots of lupine.

 imprints in the sand, left by the tide

The beach in this village was all red, with soft, red sand and red rocks, and red dirt and clay roads.

 rocks and seaweed in the low tide

 view away from the bay

 pretty purple wildflowers and red sand beach

 red sand beach and red rocks

last view of Victoria by the bay

summer

 
My summer is full of travel, work, garden, chickens, reading, socializing, and good food.

I want to try these recipes: 2 Ingredient Chocolate Pudding and Mojito Popsicles
We did try this last night for dinner and it was excellent!: Chicken Korma

I'm not alone in wanting to listen to beautiful music at Mass.

This just reinforces why I like Stephen Colbert.

wishes for 2016

Here is my list of wishes for 2016:

strikethrough: complete

italics: in progress

travel to Baltimore, MD, Prince Edward Island, across the pond, 

Hamilton, MO (hopefully), plus day trips!

take part in a Catholic Women's Conference in June

take a train somewhere

ride bikes somewhere

be active 3-4x week (gym/walks)

visit the art museum

 paint front door
paint back door

make garden smaller and more efficient

read 50 books

cook 5 new recipes

try 5 new-to-me restaurants

crochet, sew, weave work including:

hats, scarves, cowls,
table runners, quilts sachets,

wall hangings
enter vendor shows

take photos weekly

post blog monthly

see a Muny show

visit the farmer's market

print photographs and update photo albums
say Rosary daily or weekly in the car

go hiking in at least 5 parks locally
paint/collage postcards and send a birthday greetings

attend a Cardinals' game

host a party for friends

try to buy as much Made in USA

research, plan, create, and give homemade Christmas gifts

continue focusing on small business 

using my planner to budget time and remember activities daily, weekly, monthly Links:

22 things every woman needs in her life

want to make these: fudge paleo banana chocolate protein popsicles

7 old wives tales with research backing them

a French street party

Memorial Day

all photos taken at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO, overlooking the Mississippi River, in the late winter.

In Memorial of all those who have given their lives for our country, so that we may continue to have our freedom. Thank you to all who serve, who have served, and who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

puzzles

 

 One thing I find myself into these days is puzzles. No doubt inspired by Elise Cripe who I follow and who has gone through her own puzzle making days. My pics are not the best, with the glare and all, as I sit in the dining room under our chandelier and work. My first one, top,  was by far the fastest for me, in about three days, and the second, below, took about a week.

I have heard and figured out that the best way to start is by finding all the edges, then finding like colors and slowly going that way. That method has helped me on the first two but does not seem to be making a difference on my most recent endeavor.

Links:
Don't just let the nicest things sit there, or hide. Use the good things.
On puzzles. Literally and in real life.
The internet is not real life. It is curated, only a partial look at real life.

What is your set of tactics for solving a puzzle?

Morning view

I've been meaning to post here though I haven't forgotten about this space. I have felt an awakening this spring since the weather is so good. We've had a slow spring and the blooms have just lasted so long. I feel equally pulled between spring cleaning and garden work and general relaxing, reading, and artmaking. I've been doing a little of them all, including also working on puzzles, which for me is surprisingly therapeutic, calming, and helps me transition from a work day. I include all these things, and more really, as forms of self-care, but what I have learned recently, which fits in to my philosophy, is that when self-care is integrated in my life, instead of added as an afterthought or an extra burden I must do, I live a more intentional life and peaceful, since the care is built in.